County hosts open house for new Victim’s Center

Posted Jul 26, 2017

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KING CITY— Join the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday, July 27, from 9 to 11 a.m., 250 Franciscan Way, King City, for an Open House in the newly refurbished District Attorney’s Office, Victim’s Center.

A dedication ceremony and introductions will begin at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend the Open House and tour the Victim Center. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Center will be open to the public, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Center will increase accessibility for South County residents who lost services in 2008 when the Monterey County Courts King City Division closed due to financial reasons. The Center will focus on trauma informed services and treatment for children and youth victims of crime. In collaboration with the YWCA of Monterey County and the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center a wide variety of victim services, in-house therapy, and assistance with legal advocacy will be available.

Additionally, housed in the unit will be the Truancy Abatement Program (TAP), available to the King City School District and all schools located in South County for mediation hearings. The goal is to ensure that all students receive the education they so greatly need to develop into responsible, productive adults.

The event will feature a bench dedicated to the memory of Rodger “Anthony” Esquivel and his wife Deborah Mills. Rodger was murdered in King City in 2012 and Deborah was a reporter for the King City Rustler who died in 2016 of brain cancer.